Short answer
Madesimo is a ski village at around 1,550 metres in Valchiavenna, in the far north of Lombardy, about two hours by car from Milan and Bergamo. Skiarea Valchiavenna has eleven lifts and just under 40 pistes, most of them blue and red. For the children there's Baby Park Larici with a magic carpet, and the ski school has been around since 1934. The child pass is for children born in 2018 or later.
Quick facts
- Country / region
- Italy, Lombardy (Valchiavenna, province of Sondrio)
- Ski area
- Skiarea Valchiavenna – Madesimo and Campodolcino
- Altitude (village – top)
- 1,550 – 2,240 m above sea level
- Lifts
- 11
- Season
- late November – early April
- Nearest airports
- Bergamo (approx. 2 hrs 10 min) · Milan Linate (approx. 2 hrs 10 min) · Milan Malpensa (approx. 2.5 hrs)
- Train
- Train from Milan to Chiavenna, then bus to Madesimo (approx. 20 km)
- Price level
- ●●●●● (1 = cheap, 5 = expensive)
Family rating
4 / 5
- Beginner slopes Baby Park Larici with a magic carpet, the school slope at Arlecchino and plenty of blue pistes between Motta and Larici.
- Snow reliability The village is high for somewhere so close to Milan, but without the Groppera the lifts top out at about 2,240 metres in the 2026/27 season.
- Distance from accommodation to lifts The lifts leave from the village, so much of the accommodation is within walking distance. From Campodolcino the Sky Express funicular goes straight up.
- Travel time About two hours by car from Bergamo and Linate, and train all the way to Chiavenna.
The rating is our overall assessment for families with children based on the criteria above – not a paid placement.
Madesimo lies in the Valle Spluga, a side valley of Valchiavenna near the Swiss border. The village is small, with stone houses, a church and lifts that leave straight from the streets. What makes the resort interesting for a Swedish family is the location: from the airport in Bergamo it's about two hours by car, shorter than to most resorts in the Dolomites.
It's a resort for families who want a relaxed week, not a huge ski system. The children can learn to ski properly here, and the parents avoid long transfers. If you want to compare with the bigger resorts in the country, read the overview of skiing holidays in Italy.
The ski area in the 2026/27 season
Skiarea Valchiavenna has eleven lifts scheduled to run this winter and just under 40 pistes, most of them blue and red. Two sections are linked. From Madesimo the Larici gondola and several chairlifts go up. From the neighbouring village of Campodolcino, at 1,082 metres, the Sky Express funicular goes up to Motta at just over 1,700 metres.
The most important thing to know before this winter is that the cable car to Pizzo Groppera and the Val di Lei chairlift are listed as closed for the whole 2026/27 season while a new lift is built. So the summit and the famous steep Canalone can't be reached by lift. For a family with small children it makes little difference, since the slopes they ski are lower down anyway. But if you've read about "3,000 metres", you should know that the highest open lift, Serenissima, tops out at about 2,240 metres.
| Lift | Type | Goes up to | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larici | Gondola from Madesimo | approx. 1,880 m | Baby Park and the first blue slopes |
| Arlecchino | Chairlift | approx. 1,620 m | The school slope and the play area down by the village |
| Sky Express | Funicular from Campodolcino | approx. 1,720 m | Families staying in Campodolcino |
| Serenissima | Chairlift | approx. 2,240 m | Children who already ski confidently |
The 2026/27 season is scheduled from 27 November to 4 April. There's also night skiing and the MadePark snow park, if you have older children with you.
Baby Park Larici and the ski school
Baby Park Larici is at the top station of the Larici gondola, at about 1,875 metres. It's fenced and has a magic carpet, so the children don't have to deal with drag lifts at all. The area is split in two: one part for skiing and snowboarding and one for sledging and snow tubing. A few rules are worth knowing:
- In the 2026/27 season, children born 2016 or later are allowed in.
- Helmet is compulsory, even for sledging.
- Children need a valid lift pass or a day ticket for the park.
- One adult without skis gets in free per paying child, but may not use the children's slopes.
- On weekdays it's open in the morning and afternoon with a lunch break. At weekends, over Christmas and New Year and during carnival week it's open all day.
Down in the village there's a play area at Arlecchino and La Sorgente, where Via Carducci ends, with swings, slides and a sledging slope. Campodolcino has a similar play area at Acquamerla, near the Sky Express. It's perfect for an afternoon when legs are tired but the children aren't.
Ski school: Scuola Italiana Sci e Snowboard Madesimo Vallespluga has been around since 1934 and has more than 50 instructors. The main office is in an old chalet in the middle of the village, and the school has its own base at Arlecchino for the younger children. Group lessons are two hours a day, Monday to Friday, in small groups by level. The school doesn't state a minimum age, so ask when you book. For three-year-olds a private lesson is often a gentler first encounter with ski boots. There's more on planning the first week in first ski trip with kids.
Lift passes and age rules
Madesimo has no free pass for small children. Instead, Skiarea Valchiavenna has its own child pass, Bimbo, for children born in 2018 or later, and a junior pass for children born 2010–2017. Both are cheaper than an adult pass. The ticket office checks ages, so pack passports or ID cards, and if you're planning to buy passes for more than three days you'll also need a photo.
Most of January and the period after mid-March count as low season, while Christmas, New Year and February are high season. You'll find current prices on the ski area's booking page, and buying online usually pays off.
On Italian slopes everyone has had to wear a a helmet since winter 2025/26 – children and adults alike, on skis and on snowboards.
Madesimo or Campodolcino?
Madesimo suits families who want to walk to the lift. The Larici gondola and the Arlecchino chairlift leave from the village, and the play area is close by.
Campodolcino is lower down the valley and has a bigger choice of apartments. With the Sky Express you're up at Motta in a few minutes. A free bus runs between Campodolcino, Madesimo and the villages in between, so you can stay in one and ski from the other.
How to get to Madesimo
- By car from Milan: follow the SS 36 towards Lecco and Chiavenna, about 140 km and two hours.
- By air: Bergamo and Milan Linate are both about two hours and ten minutes away. From Malpensa it takes around two and a half hours.
- By train: the nearest station is Chiavenna, 20 km from the village, with trains from Milan. The buses up to Madesimo are timed to connect with the trains, and tickets can be bought in advance.
The Splügen Pass to Switzerland is closed in winter. Winter tyres or snow chains in the car are compulsory. For a comparison of car, train and plane, see travelling to the resort – car, train or plane, where the pros and cons are gathered together.
Is Madesimo right for your family?
Madesimo is made for families whose children are somewhere between three and ten, and who want a short journey, a manageable size and a ski village that doesn't feel like a factory. It's less suitable if you have teenagers who want new slopes every day, especially this season with the summit closed. Then Livigno in the same province is a better choice, and a little further away is Bormio with its thermal baths. If you want to see Madesimo alongside family resorts in the rest of the Alps, the comparison is in ski holiday in the Alps with children. Before you leave, the ski trip packing list is worth reading through.
Packing for Madesimo – easy things to forget
Frequently asked questions
Do children ski free in Madesimo?
No, not in the 2026/27 season. Instead, Skiarea Valchiavenna has its own child pass, Bimbo, for children born in 2018 or later, and a junior pass for children born 2010–2017. Both are below the adult price. Bring ID for the children, and remember that passes for more than three days require a photo.
What is Baby Park Larici?
A fenced children's area at the top station of the Larici gondola, at about 1,875 metres. It has a magic carpet, a section for skiing and snowboarding and a separate section for sledging and snow tubing. In the 2026/27 season, children born in 2016 or later are allowed in, and helmets are compulsory. One adult without skis gets in free per paying child.
From what age does the ski school in Madesimo take children?
The Madesimo Vallespluga ski school runs courses for children but doesn't give a fixed minimum age on its website. Group lessons are two hours a day, Monday to Friday, in small groups by level. For children under five a private lesson is often a better first step, and you can ask about the age limit when you book.
How do you get to Madesimo from Sweden?
Fly to Bergamo or Milan Linate, both about two hours and ten minutes away by car. From Malpensa the drive takes around two and a half hours. The train goes to Chiavenna, and the buses from there to Madesimo are timed to connect with the trains.
Is the cable car to Pizzo Groppera running in the 2026/27 season?
No. The Groppera cable car and the Val di Lei chairlift are listed as closed for the whole 2026/27 season while a new lift is built. That means the well-known off-piste run Canalone can't be reached by lift, and the highest open lift tops out at about 2,240 metres.
Do children have to wear a helmet on the slopes in Italy?
Yes – and it applies to the parents just as much. Since winter 2025/26, helmets have been compulsory in Italy for everyone on the slopes, skiers and snowboarders alike, regardless of age. At Baby Park Larici the ski area also requires helmets for children who are only sledging.
